Portable hoist



y 1951 u. B. MAYER 2,559,450

PORTABLE HOIST Filed Aug. 13, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3, 1951.

u. B. MAYER PORTABLE HOIST 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1949 Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE HOIST Urbin B. Mayer, Robbinsdale, Minn.

Application August 13, 1949, Serial No. 110,161

2 Claims. (01. 254161) My invention relates, generally, to hoists and more specifically to relatively small portable hoists.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of novel frame structure for portable hoists which both provides a compact arrangement of the hoist mechanism and permits relatively great loads to be lifted thereby.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of novel means for operatively engaging and disengaging the hoisting cable and drum from engagement with the lifting gears housed within the frame.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a novel means for quickly and effectively coupling my portable hoist to power mechanism therefor.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a lifting hoist, which is sufficiently light in weight to be carried about by the average adult, which is compact, relatively inexpensive to produce, extremely durable, and very easy to operate.

The above and still further objects of my in" vention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of my novel hoist, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a View in plan of my novel hoist, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, partly in section and partly in plan, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View in side elevation illustrating the adaptation of my novel hoist to an electric motor; and

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the adapter used to secure my novel hoist to a motor.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the novel frame structure of my device is identified in its entirety by the numeral I and comprises a pair of elongated laterallyspaced generally parallel frame members 2 and 3, which are formed from relatively heavy steel plate or the like. At their forward ends, it will be observed that the frame members 2 and 3 converge toward side-by-side relationship to provide a fiat longitudinally outwardly-extending anchoring flange 4. At the forward end portions, the frame members 2 and 3 are rigidly secured together by means of nut-equipped bolts 5 (only one of which is shown), and which extend through aligned openings 6 in the flange 4. Adjacent its free outer end, the anchoring flange 4 is provided with an anchoring aperture 1, adapted to receive a hook, cable or the like. It will be noted, particularly by reference to Figs. 1 and 3, that the spaced frame members 2 and 3 provide mounting space for lifting mechanism therebetwcen. Thus it will be seen that adjacent the spaced rear ends of the spaced members 2 and 3, a shaft, identified by the numeral 8, extends transversely therebetween. The shaft 8 has its opposite ends rigidly secured in rotary bearing elements 9 and I0 journalled in respective side frame members 2 and 3. It will be seen, particularly by reference to Fig. 3, that the shaft 3 is eccentric to the axis of rotation of the bearing elements 9 and I0 and is secured against rotation with respect to said bearing elements by means of pins or the like II. The bearing element I0 is provided with a knob portion I2 through which extends a stop screw I3. The stop screw I3 has threaded engagement with the knob I2 and is adapted to abut the frame member 3 when screwed into the knob I2.

Journalled for free rotation on the shaft 8 is a sleeve I4, the opposite ends of which abut the inner surfaces of bearing elements 9 and II). A spool I5 is rigidly secured to the sleeve I4 at approximately the longitudinal center thereof, and a gear I6 is rigidly secured to the sleeve at one side of the spool I5. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 4 that the sleeve I 4 is hexagonal in cross-section and that the spool fits snugly over the sleeve I4 whereby to prevent rotation, one with respect to the other. The gear I6 may be held against rotation with respect to the spool I5 and the sleeve I by any suitable means, not shown.

A power input shaft I! is mounted between the frame members 2 and 3 in spaced parallel relation to the shaft 8 and has its opposite ends journalled in bearings I8, one each in one of the frame members 2 and 3. The shaft I! is provided with gear teeth I9, which have meshing engagement with a relatively large reduction gear 20 mounted fast on an intermediate shaft 2| having its opposite ends journalled in bearings 22, one each fast in one of the frame members 2 and 3. The intermediate shaft 2| is provided with a reduction pinion 23, rigidly secured thereto and having meshing engagement with a relatively large reduction gear 23 fast on an output shaft 24. The output shaft 24 has its opposite ends journalled in suitable bearings 25, one each mounted in the frame members 2 and 3. An output gear 26 is rigidly secured to the output shaft 24 and is adapted to have meshing engagement with the gear l6 carried by the spool |5 and sleeve M.

The eccentric mounting of the shaft 8 in the bearing elements 9 and I permits moving of the shaft 8 and the sleeve M, the spool and the gear I6 carried thereby, toward and away from meshing engagement of the gear l6 with the output gear 26 upon rotation of the bearing elements 9 and I0. When the bearing elements 9 and Ill and the parts carried thereby are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and by full lines in Fig. 2, the spool-carried gear I6 is in operative meshing engagement with the output gear 26. However, when the elements 9 and H] are rotated approximately 180 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the spool-carried gear |6 will be moved out of meshing engagement with the output gear 26, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the movement thereof being in a direction generally radially of the output gear 26. A flexible hoisting cable 21 is wound upon the spool l5 and has one end anchored in one of the spool flanges, as indicated at 28. The outer free end of the cable 21 may be provided with a hook or other fastening device, not shown.

The input and intermediate shafts l1 and 2|, respectively, are each provided at adjacent ends with a power-supply engaging end portion 29, projecting laterally outwardly of the frame member 3. The portions 29 are shown as being hexagonal in cross-section, and may be coupled to a suitable source of power, such as a manuallyoperated crank, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 and indicated by the numeral 30.

Under extremely heavy load conditions, the crank 30 is applied to the shaft |1, whereby to utilize the leverage of the entire gear train.

However, under light load conditions, the crank 30 may be applied to the shaft 2| so that the spool I 5 may be turned at a greater rate of speed with a corresponding lower rate of speed of rotation of the crank 30. I

For maintaining parallelism between the frame members 2 and 3 and preventing distortion thereof under extreme load conditions of the device, I provide a relatively heavy bridge element 3| spanning the converging portions of the frame members 2 and 3 and rigidly secured thereto by screws or the like 32 (see Figs. 1 and 3). The bridge element 3| at its greatest length is equal to the spacingbetween the parallel portions of the frame members 2 and 3 and overcomes any tendency of the parallel portions of the frame members 2 and 3 to converge when an extreme load is placed upon the hoist. For further bracing the frame members 2 and 3 intermediate their ends, I provide spacer rods 33 extending laterally between said frame members and secured thereto by screws or the like 34.

A sheet metal housing 35 encloses the frame and gear mechanism and is provided at its opposite ends with apertures 36 and 31. The aperture 36 is sufficiently large to permit passage therethrough of the flexible cable 21, and the anchoring flange 4 projects longitudinally outwardly through the aperture 31. The housing 35 is secured to the frame members 2 and 3 by screws or the like 38 and the extended ends 29 of the shafts I1 and 2| extend laterally outwardly of the housing 35 through apertures 39 therein. A handle 40 is rigidly secured to one side of the housing 35, whereby the hoist may be easily carried from place to place.

In use, my improved hoist may be applied to any suitable support by means of a hook, bolt or the like inserted through the opening 1 in the anchoring flange 4. The knob I2 is rotated to move the gear l6 out of meshing engagement with the output gear 26 to permit free rotation of the gear I6 and attached spool IE on the shaft 8. With the gears l6 and 25 thus out of operative engagement, the flexible cable 21 may then be unwound from the spool l5 by merely pulling the cable longitudinally outwardly of the housing 35. When sufficient cable has been unwound to permit attachment of the free end thereof to an article to be lifted or pulled, the knob I2 is rotated to mesh the gears l6 and 25, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 2, and the locking screw l3 tightened against frame member 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the frame member 3 may be provided with a small recess or the like l3 to receive the inner end of the locking screw |3 whereby to prevent accidental rotation of the knob l2. The crank 39 is then applied to the extended end 29 of either shaft H or 2| depending upon the load to be lifted or pulled. In the case of a relatively light load, the crank 30 will be applied to the shaft 2| for relatively rapid winding of the cable 21 upon the spool I5. When the crank 30 is then rotated, the shaft l1 will merely rotate as an idler. However, when a relatively heavy load is to be moved, the crank 30 is .applied to the shaft H to take advantage of the further leverage afforded by the gears I9 and 20.

It will be appreciated that the hoist, abovedescribed, may be reversed with respect to the fixed support and the load. In other words, the anchoring flange 4 may be secured to the load to be moved and the free end of the cable 21 connected to the stationary support. In that event, the hoist will move with the load as the cable 21 is wound upon the drum l5.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a means for mounting .an electric motor to the hoist as an alternative method of applying power thereto. I provide an adapter in the nature of a relatively heavy circular plate 4| which may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured to a motor 42, the shaft 43 of the motor 42 extending through a central opening 44 in the plate 4|. The motor shaft 43 is provided at its outer end with an axially outwardly opening cross-sectionally hexagonal recess adapted to receive the extended end 29 of either shaft H or 2|. The plate 4| is provided with a pair of diametrically-opposed laterally outwardly opening recesses 45in the peripheral portion thereof. A pair of diametrically-opposed thumb screws 46 extend loosely through apertures in the plate 4|, the knurled headsthereof being contained within the recesses 45. The thumb screws 46 are adapted to have screw threaded engagement with threaded holes 41, 48 and 49 in the housing 35 and frame member 3. The holes 41 and 48 are spaced apart equidistant to the spacing of the holes 41 and 49, and this spacing is equal to the diametrical spacing of the thumb the holes 48 or 49, respectively, or to the shaft IT or 2| desired to be used. Transfer from manual cranking to motor-driven operation and vice versa is thus quickly and easily accomplished.

My improved hoist is capable of many uses and can be operated in any position, horizontally as well as vertically. Thus it can serve to pull heavy weights up an inclined surface or extricate vehicles from a ditch or snowbank.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be adequate for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth, and while I have shown a commercial embodiment of my device, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a frame comprising a pair of spaced generally parallel frame members joined at one end to provide an anchoring flange, a shaft mounted in said frame and extending transversely of said members, a cable-carrying spool journaled on said shaft intermediate said frame members, a gear rigidly secured to said spool and concentric therewith, a gear tooth-equipped shaft journaled in said frame in spaced relation to said first mentioned shaft and having one end portion adapted to engage a driving means, frame-mounted speed reduction gears intermediate said frame members, means mounting said spool-carrying shaft for movements in one direction generally radially of one of said reduction gears to cause operative meshing engagement of the gear on said spool with said one of said reduction gears and in the opposite direction to disengage the same, whereby to permit free running movements of said spool independently of said reduction gears, and means for coupling a driving motor to said drive shaft, said means comprising a plate adapted to be rigidly secured to said motor, said plate having a central opening for the reception of one end of said drive shaft and the shaft of said motor, said plate further having a pair of laterally outwardly opening recesses and a pair of fastening screws extending through said plate parallel to the axis of the central opening thereof, the heads of said screws being contained within said recesses, said screws being adapted to have threaded engagement with cooperating threaded holes in one of said frame members.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame comprising a pair of spaced generally parallel frame members joined at one end to provide an anchoring flange, a shaft mounted in said frame and extending transversely of the frame members, a cable-carrying spool journaled on said shaft intermediate the frame members, a gear rigidly secured to said spool and concentric therewith, a gear tooth-equipped input drive shaft, a gear-equipped intermediate shaft and a gear-equipped output shaft journaled in said frame in spaced parallel relationship and parallel to the axis of said spool, the gears on said input, intermediate and output shafts having intermeshing engagement to provide a speed-reduction mechanism, one of the gears on said output shaft being engageable with the gear on said spool, said input and intermediate shafts having adjacent end portions extending laterally out wardly of one of said frame members and adapted to be selectively engaged by driving means, means mounting said spool-carrying shaft for movements in one direction generally radially of said.

output shaft to cause operative meshing engagement of the gear on said spool with the denoted gear on said output shaft, and in the opposite direction to disengage the same, whereby to permit free running movements of said spool independently of said speed reduction mechanism, and means for selectively coupling a shaft-equipped driving motor to the laterally outwardly extending end portions of said input or intermediate shafts, said-means comprising a plate adapted to be rigidly secured to said motor, said plate having a central opening for the reception of the extended end of the selected shaft and the shaft of said motor, said plate further having a pair of laterally outwardly opening recesses, and a pair of fastening screws extending through said plate parallel to the axis of the central opening, the heads of said screws being contained within said recesses, said screws being adapted to have threaded engagement with cooperating threaded holes in one of said frame members.

URBIN B. MAYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 382,096 Lafo May 1, 1888 747,401 Foltz Dec. 22, 1903 941,722 Moulton Nov. 30, 1909 1,408,645 Schuman et al Mar. 7, 1922 1,530,492 Haight Mar. 24, 1925 1,926,101 Johnston Sept. 12, 1933 2,361,388 Evans Oct. 31, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 783,874 France Apr. 15, 1935 

